UKC Logbook DescriptionSee the Alpine Club guide or just follow the crowds. In addition to this watch out for frequent stonefall when ascending the loose mixed ground under the Salle a Manger.
If you choose to don't use the fixed ropes it goes at D V+.

Left Chamonix at 6am and got to the Salle a manger at 9:30am but there was a queue of over a dozen teams waiting to start. Hung around for 30 minutes and things weren't moving quickly so decided to go back down. Weather started to turn as we descended so didn't feel too disappointed.

Left Chamonix at 6am and got to the Salle a manger at 9:30am but there was a queue of over a dozen teams waiting to start. Hung around for 30 minutes and things weren't moving quickly so decided to go back down. Weather started to turn as we descended so didn't feel too disappointed.

From the 2nd lift. Made fairly good time. Lead the whole thing in mountain boots and avoided ropes until last pitch. Just a bit too slow (soft snow on the walk) back and missed the last lift by 15 mins so stayed in the Torino.

From the 2nd lift. Made fairly good time. Lead the whole thing in mountain boots and avoided ropes until last pitch. Just a bit too slow (soft snow on the walk) back and missed the last lift by 15 mins so stayed in the Torino.

While the large concentration of numpties on this route means less everywhere else, you should do as much as possible to avoid them. We should have climbed the Deant the night before, then bivvied (either Salle a Manger or behind you when you leave the snow for the rocks on the way up,) then did the Rochefort Arete in the. There would have been much less angst from people climbing on top of each other and potentially last lift missing queues for the abseil on top (last lift is 5.) It is sunny from early afternoon so would be nice and warm in the late afternoon too.

with Carol

While the large concentration of numpties on this route means less everywhere else, you should do as much as possible to avoid them. We should have climbed the Deant the night before, then bivvied (either Salle a Manger or behind you when you leave the snow for the rocks on the way up,) then did the Rochefort Arete in the. There would have been much less angst from people climbing on top of each other and potentially last lift missing queues for the abseil on top (last lift is 5.) It is sunny from early afternoon so would be nice and warm in the late afternoon too.

Despite the fixed ropes which turns the climbing into something from an adventure playground and the crowds this is a peak out of your dreams. The most airy summit I have ever been on. Tip- on the section up to the Salle look for cairns on the right. Avoid the loose ground on the left, it looks like the path but isn't.

with john b

Despite the fixed ropes which turns the climbing into something from an adventure playground and the crowds this is a peak out of your dreams. The most airy summit I have ever been on. Tip- on the section up to the Salle look for cairns on the right. Avoid the loose ground on the left, it looks like the path but isn't.

Amazing route. Few other parties on it and a real cold wind so ended up using a combination of fixed ropes and climbing to speed things up. Could do with some better gloves to climb in in the cold! Great to do it with my mate Rich. Got back to Helbronner just as the weather, cloud and snow came in. Phew. A memorable day.

with Rich G

Amazing route. Few other parties on it and a real cold wind so ended up using a combination of fixed ropes and climbing to speed things up. Could do with some better gloves to climb in in the cold! Great to do it with my mate Rich. Got back to Helbronner just as the weather, cloud and snow came in. Phew. A memorable day.

Done from the Torino Hut after the Aguille de Rochefort Ridge. Long wait due to congestion on ascent and at the ab station meant we missed the last lift down. Had to assist a British guide who got lost during the descent.

Done from the Torino Hut after the Aguille de Rochefort Ridge. Long wait due to congestion on ascent and at the ab station meant we missed the last lift down. Had to assist a British guide who got lost during the descent.

Walked in from the Col du Midi. Had packed rock shoes with the aim of not using the fixed ropes, but it was too cold to try and grip the rock. Met up with groups coming from the Torino hut and got to the top without issue. We then decided to wait for the rest of our party with the other rope so we could make the longer abs for descent. After a short while, a pair of british climbers appeared and told us they had turned back, and we could ab down with them (Thanks guys!). Unfortunately this left us in a queue for the ab station as a previous party was having difficulty. We eventually got down with no chance of getting back to the Midi station for the last lift, and decided to bail to the Torino. The forecast for the next day was poor, so we made an early start (despite thunderstorms over Italy) and just caught the first lift down after hauling the remains of the camp in a survival bag from the col to the station. Phew!

Walked in from the Col du Midi. Had packed rock shoes with the aim of not using the fixed ropes, but it was too cold to try and grip the rock. Met up with groups coming from the Torino hut and got to the top without issue. We then decided to wait for the rest of our party with the other rope so we could make the longer abs for descent. After a short while, a pair of british climbers appeared and told us they had turned back, and we could ab down with them (Thanks guys!). Unfortunately this left us in a queue for the ab station as a previous party was having difficulty. We eventually got down with no chance of getting back to the Midi station for the last lift, and decided to bail to the Torino. The forecast for the next day was poor, so we made an early start (despite thunderstorms over Italy) and just caught the first lift down after hauling the remains of the camp in a survival bag from the col to the station. Phew!

After Rochefort arete, Mike and Clay on seperate rope clipping our gear. Started route at 10.30am. Hood was buzzing with electricity on subsidiary summit. Swiss guides refused to let us abseil before all of their friends and clients. Mighty crash 5 mins after getting off last abseil where a lightning bolt hit the Dent 2/3 of the way up. Mike and I felt the electric shock. A frightening 2 hour descent in storm conditions to the Torino. A very sizeable epic.

with Mike Wild

After Rochefort arete, Mike and Clay on seperate rope clipping our gear. Started route at 10.30am. Hood was buzzing with electricity on subsidiary summit. Swiss guides refused to let us abseil before all of their friends and clients. Mighty crash 5 mins after getting off last abseil where a lightning bolt hit the Dent 2/3 of the way up. Mike and I felt the electric shock. A frightening 2 hour descent in storm conditions to the Torino. A very sizeable epic.

Got to the start of the rock climbing and turned round because of the cold. (Jim-get some gloves you can climb in!) Still it felt f*ing great to be doing something alpine though, 3 1/2 months after leaving hospital.

with jim b

Got to the start of the rock climbing and turned round because of the cold. (Jim-get some gloves you can climb in!) Still it felt f*ing great to be doing something alpine though, 3 1/2 months after leaving hospital.

Had the mountain to ourselves. Wasted a bit of time on the walk-in,and I didn't particularly enjoy the fixed ropes: would feel safer doing it properly! Back just in time to catch the last Torino telepherique of the whole season!

with Tom Whipple

Had the mountain to ourselves. Wasted a bit of time on the walk-in,and I didn't particularly enjoy the fixed ropes: would feel safer doing it properly! Back just in time to catch the last Torino telepherique of the whole season!